Opportunities
Open Secrets Internships
(Investigations | Campaigns)
Are you an advocate for social justice, accountability and transparency?
Are you keen to work with a small team of investigators and civil society activists?
Open Secrets is hiring two outstanding candidates (one Intern: Investigations and one Intern: Campaigns) to join our small, dedicated team in Cape Town. Open Secrets is a non-profit organisation working on issues of economic crime and its impact on human rights. We use investigative research, advocacy, and the law to hold private corporations and individuals who commit or enable these human rights violations, to account.
Our work focuses on four strategic priority areas: climate crisis profiteers, digital profiteers, state capture profiteers, and war profiteers.
See more at: www.opensecrets.org.za | X: @OpenSecretsZA | LinkedIn: Open Secrets ZA
Contract Period: Starting 01 June 2026 (or soon thereafter) for a 6- to 12-month contract period (nonrenewable).
Remuneration: R19,600 per month (total cost to company).
These are full-time positions based at Community House in Salt River, Cape Town.
The Open Secrets team operates on a hybrid model, combining in-office and remote work.
About the Open Secrets Internship
Open Secrets’ internship programme offers graduates the opportunity to contribute to work that seeks to expose economic crime, challenge private sector impunity, and seek redress for the victims of human rights abuses linked to economic crime and ultimately create a more just society. The programme aims to introduce talented young graduates to the under-served field of economic crime and corporate accountability, while developing skills and experience that can support work in civil society, investigative research or journalism, and public interest law and advocacy.
At Open Secrets we place a high value on our people, and interns are no exception. Interns receive similar benefits and access to organisational resources as staff members, including:
• Training and development opportunities
• A contribution to medical aid or medical insurance (included in the total cost to company salary)
• Wellness support
Interns are through mentoring and training, and are expected to actively participate in and contribute to the work of the organisation.
How to apply:
Submit the following documents by 17:00 on Thursday, 30 April 2026:
1. a covering letter which tells us why you want to work at Open Secrets and why you believe you are the right person for the job (please don’t send us an AI generated letter – we want to get to know YOU);
2. resume;
3. copy of relevant qualifications;
4. a copy of a recent unedited piece of written work (for the investigations intern) or a short portfolio of advocacy or communications work (for the campaigns intern).
5. full contact details (email address and phone number) of at least two referees.
Please apply here: https://form.jotform.com/260983599811573
Applications via social media platforms or email will not be considered. Kindly note that applications missing any of the required information will not be considered.
1. Intern: Investigations (1 position)
Primary Responsibilities:
• Undertake investigationsinto economic crimesin South Africa and other parts of Africa. Read, summarise, and archive research material.
• Write reports and related occasional articles for our website, media partners, and Open Secrets’ social media platforms.
• Assist in managing advocacy related to Open Secrets’ investigations and litigation, including producing content for Open Secrets’ social media platforms and website.
• Collaborate with our partners in civil society.
• Contribute to other Open Secrets work areas as needed.
Ideal Candidate:
• Strong work ethic (thorough, thoughtful, and able to manage deadlines), exemplary integrity, and a demonstrated commitment to social justice.
• A collaborative team player with an inquisitive mind.
• Ongoing or completed postgraduate studies in a related field (politics, history, economics, journalism, law etc.).
• Strong research, writing, and organisational skills.
• Strong command of basic Microsoft Office Suite programmes (Word, Excel, etc.). • Able to work through an intersectional lens.
• Historically disadvantaged applicants are encouraged to apply.
• Eligible to work in South Africa.
2. Intern: Campaigns (1 position)
Primary Responsibilities:
• Assist in managing Open Secrets’ social media.
• Assist in creating high-quality multi-media content (including factsheets, podcasts, and explainer videos) for Open Secrets’ social media platforms.
• Assist in organising Open Secrets in-person and online events, including workshops on the climate crisis.
• Collaborate with our partners in civil society and social movements.
• Contribute to developing and research for Open Secrets’ online interactive databases.
Ideal Candidate:
• Strong work ethic (thorough, thoughtful, and able to manage deadlines), exemplary integrity, and a demonstrated commitment to social justice.
• A collaborative team player with an inquisitive mind.
• Ongoing or completed postgraduate studies in a related field (politics, history, law, media or communication studies, journalism, etc.).
• A creative who has some experience in producing graphics, video and audio content.
• Strong command of basic Microsoft Office Suite programmes (Word, Excel, etc.).
• Knowledge of digital media tools (Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, WordPress, and MailChimp). • Historically disadvantaged applicants are encouraged to apply.
• Eligible to work in South Africa.
